EUGENE,
Ore. -- (Feb. 27, 2009) - Employees at the University of Oregon gave a total of
$257,760 in 2008 to the Oregon Employees Charitable Fund Drive (CFD), a 7.29
percent increase from 2007. While donations to CFD were expected to be about
the same as 2007, because of the economy, UO faculty and staff met the
challenge to help those in need. The UO was number one among all participating
agencies to give the most money this year.

The
CFD was started in 1989 as a way for employees of state agencies and the Oregon
University System to make charitable donations to Oregon nonprofit groups in
areas such as arts, children, environment, health, housing, human services and
social justice.

"UO
employees have always been active in the Oregon Employees Charitable Fund
Drive. But this year, with tougher economic conditions and more and more people
in need, our faculty and staff made the commitment to give and help out a
little more," said Mike Eyster, UO campaign chair and assistant vice president
for student affairs and director of the University Health Center.

In
2008, 773 UO employees donated to the drive, representing more than 18 percent of
all employees. In 2007, UO raised $240,236, a 3 percent increase from 2006.

Combined
with other universities and state employees, the 2008 CFD was the most
successful in its 19-year history, raising more than $1.2 million for Oregon
nonprofits.

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